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From the deliciously funny parody of Spiderman in the opening scene to the bonus video of the new "Rock On Larry Boy" theme song, Larry Boy and the Bad Apple is the best work to come from Big Idea Productions in the last five years.

Supposedly inspired by a text message received from a fan, the story deals once again with the city of Bumblyburg, home of superhero Larry Boy (Larry the Cucumber) and his faithful assistant/butler/Man Friday Alfred (Archibald Asparagus).   A wave of temptation has hit the fair city, leaving its victims paralyzed within the webs spun by the Bad Apple, who bears a striking resemblance to Batman villianness Poison Ivy.   She and her henchman (a worm) incapacitate the Mayor, the local news reporter, and then Larry Boy himself – each is captured within their own self-serving behavior, and incapable of escaping the temptation on their own. 

This pattern continues, and causes chaos within Bumblyburg, until each of them realize a few things.  One, too much of a good thing can become sickening.   Two, giving in to temptation is preventing them from being the people, um, vegetables, that God wants them to be.  Three, and most important, is that they cannot throw off the temptress by themselves – it requires the help of God and other people. 

As always, Big Idea's writers mix in some jokes for the parents of their target audience.  Having an apple represent temptation seems obvious, but it provides a good starting point for discussion with kids who will watch this.   Smart and funny is a difficult thing to pull off these days, but Larry Boy and the Bad Apple does just that.  And anything that can make my kids laugh while teaching them proper values gets my money every time. 

Brian A. Smith
20 July 2006